City of Oakland to Pay $3.5 Million To Family of Accidentally Shot Officer - Sad Story - Oakland Trib
City to pay millions to slain cop's family
FROM STAFF REPORTS - OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — The city of Oakland is expected to pay $3.5 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of an undercover Oakland police officer shot to death by two fellow officers who mistook him for a criminal, officials said Friday.
The settlement, which must be approved by U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney, would putan end to a case that was another blow to a department already reeling from the Riders police misconduct scandal. The approval of the Oakland City Council is not required.
A spokeswoman for Oakland City Attorney John Russo said the city's insurance carrier will cover the cost of the settlement, not taxpayer funds.
On Jan. 11, 2001, undercover Officer William Wilkins, 29, was arresting a car theft suspect at gunpoint near 90th Avenue and B Street in East Oakland after spending most of the evening working for the Alameda County Drug Task Force.
At about 11:15 p.m., Officers Andrew Koponen and Tim Scarrott arrived on the scene and opened fire after ordering Wilkins to drop his weapon. According to court records, they thought Wilkins, who did not identify himself as an officer, was going to shoot the other man. Wilkins was hit nine times, and died in surgery.
A longtime friend of Wilkins, Officer Torrey Nash, arrived on the scene just before shots were fired by Koponen and Scarrott.
In a deposition, Nash recalled saying "Hey, it's Willie" from about 30 yards away, but acknowledged he probably wasn't speaking loudly enough for Koponen and Scarrott to hear him.
In an e-mail to several news media organizations, Koponen said he is relieved the case has been settled and is looking forward to moving on with his life. Both Koponen and Scarrott still work for the Oakland Police Department.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Wilkins' widow, Kely, his now 6-year-old son and his parents, accused the department of not adequately training uniformed officers on patrol to recognize undercover officers.
As a result of the shooting, all police officers now receive additional training, officials said.
FROM STAFF REPORTS - OAKLAND TRIBUNE
OAKLAND — The city of Oakland is expected to pay $3.5 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of an undercover Oakland police officer shot to death by two fellow officers who mistook him for a criminal, officials said Friday.
The settlement, which must be approved by U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney, would putan end to a case that was another blow to a department already reeling from the Riders police misconduct scandal. The approval of the Oakland City Council is not required.
A spokeswoman for Oakland City Attorney John Russo said the city's insurance carrier will cover the cost of the settlement, not taxpayer funds.
On Jan. 11, 2001, undercover Officer William Wilkins, 29, was arresting a car theft suspect at gunpoint near 90th Avenue and B Street in East Oakland after spending most of the evening working for the Alameda County Drug Task Force.
At about 11:15 p.m., Officers Andrew Koponen and Tim Scarrott arrived on the scene and opened fire after ordering Wilkins to drop his weapon. According to court records, they thought Wilkins, who did not identify himself as an officer, was going to shoot the other man. Wilkins was hit nine times, and died in surgery.
A longtime friend of Wilkins, Officer Torrey Nash, arrived on the scene just before shots were fired by Koponen and Scarrott.
In a deposition, Nash recalled saying "Hey, it's Willie" from about 30 yards away, but acknowledged he probably wasn't speaking loudly enough for Koponen and Scarrott to hear him.
In an e-mail to several news media organizations, Koponen said he is relieved the case has been settled and is looking forward to moving on with his life. Both Koponen and Scarrott still work for the Oakland Police Department.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Wilkins' widow, Kely, his now 6-year-old son and his parents, accused the department of not adequately training uniformed officers on patrol to recognize undercover officers.
As a result of the shooting, all police officers now receive additional training, officials said.
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